How Pedro Neto became one of Chelsea’s most important players | OneFootball

Winger is one of Maresca’s most trusted lieutenants and his return fitness is key with some big games on the horizon

Over the 17 months Maresca has spent in post at Stamford Bridge, Neto has shown himself to be a reliable general, chipping in with goals and assists and switching between the left and right wings depending on the profile of wide player operating on the opposing flank.

Chelsea have a plethora of options out wide this season, including new signings Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens, young star Estevao, academy graduate Tyrique George and, depending on how Maresca plans to fit them into the same team, Joao Pedro and/or Palmer once the Englishman returns from his groin injury.

And yet it is Neto who the head coach places the most faith in between his wingers, trusting the Portuguese with the bulk of the game time. Among outfield players, only Neto and Joao Pedro have started all 11 of Chelsea’s league games this season.

He’s top, very humble, working hard

Enzo Maresca

In that time, Neto has scored three goals, assisting twice. The last goal came in Chelsea’s 3-0 win against Wolves before the international break, when the 25-year-old netted against his former club but asked to come off shortly after due to a groin injury.

That same groin issue saw him pull out of international duty with Portugal last week. That he instead stayed in London and on Monday made a return to training at Cobham is no bad thing for Chelsea ahead of huge games against Barcelona and Arsenal over the next fortnight. Maresca is sure to turn to one of his most experienced generals in both of those clashes.

Maresca is not only a fan of Neto’s quality out wide - or as a stand-in No9, his position when he scored against Wolves - but also of his demeanour.

“He’s top, very humble, working hard,” Maresca said of Neto last month. “He’s a very important player for us and we are very happy with Pedro.”

But Maresca, at the same time, went on to lay down the gauntlet for Neto as he encouraged his most senior winger to reach that next level.

Pedro Neto has enjoying his best football yet at Chelsea

Chelsea FC via Getty Images

“He’s exactly the same as other players,” Maresca explained. “He needs to be always 100 per cent, because in the moment that you drop a little bit, mentally or physically, in this league, it’s complicated.”

Maresca is not wrong. Chelsea’s teen sensation Estevao is breathing down Neto’s neck and pushing hard for a first Premier League start since September. Neto’s next step must therefore be to perform at the level he played at against Wolves on a more consistent basis.

But there is no suggestion his place is under threat in the medium-term - not only because he could switch to the left even if Maresca did bring Estevao in but because he has shown himself to be a reliable player who fits the manager’s possession-dominant 4-2-3-1 system.

Last season Neto scored nine goals and tallied the same number of assists, and was a major contributor to the Blues’ Club World Cup triumph as their joint top-scorer alongside Palmer and Joao Pedro with three goals apiece.

A hard worker with defensive discipline as well as offensive threat in the final third, Neto is in a good place right now. His return is timely as Chelsea prepare for crucial weeks ahead.